Starting in Fionnport on the Hebridean island of Mull first the boat passes Iona where the Irish monk Colmcille founded a monastery and lived for 34 years. Half an hour later Staffa (from Norse stafr-ey "pillar island") comes into view. The island consists of millions of basalt columns creating bizarre landscape formations and caves - a solemn place.

Hannah Alkire and Joe Scott are Acoustic Eidolon from Colorado (www.acousticeidolon.com) We met at a Festival in Vancouver several years ago and have done many tours together since. This is one of Joe's compositions.

This Norland Wind tune carries the name of a bird - and the name of the boat between the islands of Streymoy and Hestur belonging the Faroe Islands. A strong boat, always riding the waves regardless of how high they might be. Sometimes a rough trip even in quiet waters. The Faroes, situated between the Shetland Islands and Iceland in the North Atlantic, were originally settled by Irish monks. They introduced sheep to the islands. So when the Vikings arrived they called the islands Føroyar (sheep islands).
Special thanks to Kristian Blakk for the opportunity to stay on Hestur for a good while.

Tory island off the Northwest coast of Ireland is a place full of history, legend, music and art. It is connected to Iona through Colmcille who founded a monastery on Tory before his time on Iona. "You'll have to throw three pebbles onto the wishing stone. Should they stay on top your next wish will come true." For Annemiek.

Round hills, shining lakes, hundreds of shades of green, yellow and red, the gurgling of a clear creek, young birch trees everywhere and a small herd of reindeer: Mofjell in September. This is for Vigleik und Arna from Mo i Rana in Northern Norway. The tune was written in their beautiful mountain hut - a little piece of paradise near the arctic circle.

I have played this tune together with Norland Wind for a long time. Thanks to Hannah and Joe for the Acoustic Eidolon version of this tune about a bird rock on Tory Island. A place I like to come back to at least once a year.